TALLMADGE TOWNSHIP, MICH. - More than 50 mailboxes were damaged by vandals in Kent County and Tallmadge Township between Wednesday night, Nov. 23 and Thursday morning, Nov. 24.

Police are investigating what they call the "malicious destruction" of the mailboxes.

Investigators think he damage was done with a golf club, but some residents believe some of the mailboxes were hit with a baseball bat.

"Just by the markings on it," explains 8th Avenue resident Ron Kobel. "We have been hit before and it was a baseball bat then. The markings are more like a baseball bat again this time."

The first report came from 13054 8th Avenue and once police investigated further, they learned the damage started in Kent County near Kenowa Avenue and Burton Street.

"My Husband and I were sitting in our front room and I heard a noise," recalls Tallmadge Township resident Darlene Hendricks. "I told my husband that sounded like the mailbox and, sure enough, he went outside and the mailbox has a big dent in it."

The suspects then went north on Kenowa Avenue and west on Luce Street before going north on 8th Avenue to Johnson Street where they continued to permanently damage the mailboxes.

"Kids have been doing this for years," says Kobel. "This is probably the second or third mailbox we have had hit."

Another incident occurred along the route where police say the suspects broke the window of a car using a golf club.

Anyone with any information on these crimes is asked to call the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-249-0911 or leave a tip to 1-877-88-SILENT.